OPA! OF GREECE CELEBRATES 100TH STORE WITH COMMUNITY WHO MADE ITS FIRST LOCATION A NATIONAL SUCCESS

OPA! of Greece (“OPA”) is delighted to officially announce the opening of its 100th store in Calgary on Thursday, May 9, 2019 – the same city where its first location opened more than 20 years ago. OPA is thrilled that this momentous occasion is taking place within a community that is near to its heart. The northwest community of Coventry Hills will be the site for the landmark opening and by happy coincidence, will be owned in part by OPA!’s first Franchisee and current CEO, Dorrie Karras.

OPA!’s founder and Greek-native, Niko Tiginagas, opened the very first OPA! location in Calgary’s Market Mall in 1998, and its quick rise to success led him to sell his first franchise location shortly thereafter. Niko’s vision was to create a business steeped in Greek heritage and driven by a desire to serve the kind of quality food that served as a backdrop for all things family and community. Tiginagas opened his first restaurant and engaged customers with the flare and showmanship that was uniquely Greek, while building lasting relationships in the community with his Canadian neighbours and customers.

Embracing its Canadian roots alongside its Greek heritage has been the catalyst for OPA!’s expansion and continued growth. With stores from Vancouver Island to Ontario, OPA! has used its tried and true Greek concept to empower other entrepreneurs who share the company’s passion for great food and great experiences. The OPA! brand has been built over the years in partnership with a diverse group of talented franchisees who have contributed to its success and popularity across the country. Today the fabric of OPA! is representative of the diversity of the Canadian population as it continues to pursue franchise partners who are both talented and enthusiastic through a lens of inclusivity.

OPA! credits its franchisees with continuing to carry forward the legacy of its original vision for a community-minded business dedicated to offering authentic, delicious Greek food. The now nation-wide franchise celebrates the unity and diversity that it has cultivated as a pillar of its business philosophy as it opens its 100th store and looks forward to continuing to build connections throughout Canadian communities amongst both its franchise partners and loyal customers.

“As OPA!’s first franchisee, I have to say what an honour it is to have the opportunity to also be its 100th franchisee,” says Dorrie Karras, CEO of OPA! and multi-unit franchisee. “I have formed such a strong connection with this great brand over the years and it has allowed me to be part of building up a business that I truly believe in and am passionate about. Every meal we prepare at OPA! carries with it our commitment to supporting the old-world richness and simplicity of enjoying great meals with great people, and the sharing of love and laughter as a staple in leading a rich, healthy life.”

OPA!’s success can also be attributed to the internal growth being driven by single store franchisees adding to their portfolios to become multi-store operators, much like Karras has done. Karras’ vision as CEO and his experience as a franchise operator have also been part of this recipe for success when it comes to connecting corporate strategy with growth at the store-level. With a clear understanding of the needs of its franchisees and the strategic oversight required to implement big-pictures initiatives from the head office, the OPA! team has been able to come together in working towards a common goal at every level.

OPA!’s 100th location is located at Unit #511, 500 Country Hills Blvd NW and will be open 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more event details, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

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About OPA! of Greece

OPA! is celebrating more than 20 years of serving Greek food to Canadians! In 1998, Niko Tiginagas opened the first OPA! in Market Mall (Calgary, AB) with a passion of serving flavourful food with legendary customer service. Within the first year in business, OPA! became the number one operator within the food court. Since its inception, OPA! has built on this formula for success and has grown to become Canada’s largest and fastest growing Greek food franchise, with food court and storefront units spanning from British Columbia to Ontario.